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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Late last night, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) held their 64th Annual DGA Awards at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles. The evening was hosted by Kelsey Grammer.

Michel Hazanavicius was named the Outstanding Director of the Year for directing The Artist. He had been up against fellow nominees Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris, David Fincher for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Alexander Payne for The Descendants, and Martin Scorsese for Hugo.

James Marsh took the Documentary category for making Project Nim. His competition had been Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky for Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory; Steve James for The Interrupters; Richard Press for Bill Cunningham New York; and Martin Scorsese for George Harrison: Living in the Material World.
Television winners included Jon Cassar for The Kennedys; Patty Jenkins for The Killing; and Robert B. Weide for Curb Your Enthusiasm.

A DGA Honorary Life Member Award was presented to Ed Sherin. Katy E. Garretson received the Frank Capra Achievement Award; and Dennis W. Mazzocco was presented with the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series
Jon Cassar, The Kennedys (Reelz Channel)
This was Mr. Cassar’s third DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series in 2006 for 24 - “7:00 AM-8:00 AM" and was nominated in this category in 2003 for the episode of 24 also titled “7:00 AM-8:00 AM."

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
Patty Jenkins, The Killing, "Pilot"
Ms. Jenkins was also nominated this year in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for her segment of Five.

This was Mr. Weiss' eighth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2007 and 2010 for the 61st and 64th Annual Tony Awards. He was previously nominated in this category in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008, all for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.

This was Mr. Ludel's seventh DGA Award nomination and all for his direction of General Hospital. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for General Hospital "Episode #9801" in 2001 and "Episode #8248" in 1995; and was previously nominated forGeneral Hospital "Macho Men" in 2009, "Luke in Purgatory" in 2008, "Episode #11177" in 2006 and for "Episode #7922" in 1994.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs
Amy Schatz, A Child’s Garden of Poetry (HBO)
This was Ms. Schatz’s sixth DGA Award nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs in 2008 for Classical Baby (I'm Grown Up Now)“The Poetry Show,” in 2001 for 'Twas the Night' and in 1999 for Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepy Time Tales. She was previously nominated in this category for Hard Times for an American Girl: The Great Depression in 2009 and Through a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001 in 2002.

This was Mr. Murro's sixth DGA Award nomination in this category. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for Carry (Adidas), Glen (Starbucks), andToy Boat (eBay) in 2004. He was also nominated in this category in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
James Marsh, Project Nim, Red Box Films, Passion Pictures, HBO Documentary Films, Roadside Attractions, BBC Films, UK Film Council
This was Mr. Marsh’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Man on Wire in 2008.

The recipients of the Directors Guild of America Service and Achievement Awards for 2012 are:

DGA Honorary Life Member Award
Ed Sherin
Given in recognition of outstanding creative achievement, contribution to the DGA or to the profession of directing.

Frank Capra Achievement Award
Katy E. Garretson
Given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of their career and service to the industry and the DGA.

Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award
Dennis W. Mazzocco
Given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of their service to the industry and DGA.

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The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been one of the industry's most accurate barometers for who will win the Best Director Academy Award.

The six exceptions are as follows:

1968: Anthony Harvey won the DGA Award for The Lion in Winter while Carol Reed took home the Oscar® for Oliver!

1972: Francis Ford Coppola received the DGA's nod for The Godfather while the Academy selected Bob Fosse for Cabaret.

1985: Steven Spielberg received his first DGA Award for The Color Purple while the Oscar® went to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa.

1995: Ron Howard was chosen by the DGA for his direction of Apollo 13 while Academy voters selected Mel Gibson for Braveheart.

2000: Ang Lee won the DGA Award for his direction of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon while Steven Soderbergh won the Academy Award for Traffic.

2002: Rob Marshall won the DGA Award for Chicago while Roman Polanski received the Academy Award for The Pianist.